Podium and first 5 finishers

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Lisbon
Ok I know that it is sotra early to predict this but what do you think the podium will be and the next two. So really what will be the top 5?
1. ok i have to go with Armstrong

I believe LA will be first, JU second. LeBlanc had some pretty nice things to say about LA recently:

"'I believe [LA] has the means to win his sixth Tour de France. He seems to me in the same condition or even better than in previous years,' Leblanc told Reuters. 'And he's backed by a very good team.'... 'Armstrong has an exceptional reading of the race. With his experience, his professionalism, he never makes any mistake,' Leblanc added. 'His tactical sense is unbelievable. To let underdogs break away yesterday (Thursday) and seize the overall lead in order to take pressure off his own team mates was a perfect strategy.' 'His performance thus far was flawless,'"

Separately, TH sustained an unclear injury in today's stage. But I don't believe that's what's going to make him loose to LA.

"American Tyler Hamilton, one of a few remaining challengers to Lance Armstrong, sustained a back injury on the crash-marred finish of the sixth stage of the Tour de France. The 33-year-old Phonak rider was one of a number of riders to get caught up in a mass pile-up a kilometre from the finish line of the 196km stage between Bonneval and here. A team spokesman said the American has significant bruising to his back after he landed flat on it. Nothing is broken although Hamilton has bruising and grazes which could hamper his bid for the yellow jersey.... Although it is not known how bad Hamilton has been injured, his Phonak team are taking it badly as a number of their riders, including Spanish climber Oscar Sevilla, were also caught up in the carnage."

:o

It's almost as if Tyler might as well have an orthopedic surgeon standing by at the TdF to help with his inevitable injury. Last year, it was his collarbone, this year his back. Two years ago, I think he had trouble too. Crashes seem to find him. It's too bad because he's a great rider.

I think Armstrong will win followed by these others: Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Roberto Heras, Bobby Julich, Ivan Mayo. I wouldn't be sure about the order on the 2nd to 5th positions. I think Jan will pull off 2nd or 3d.

Cyclingnews reports: "Phonak's Tour mishaps continued today when team leader Tyler Hamilton crashed in the final kilometre, along with a large chunk of the peloton including teammates Bert Grabsch, Oscar Sevilla and Martin Elmiger. Hamilton landed on his back and suffered **multiple contusions**, although he didn't break any bones, while the other three were relatively unhurt."

Everything seems to be going LA's way in this TdF, not that he would want TH hurt or anything.

JU will win, Mayo will be top 5 and less than 4 mins down on LA at finish, Hamilton will get a "Heroic" 4th 3rd might be a lottery

Leipheimer and Basso might be in the mix too.

Yea I think Leipheimer could very well take 5th or 4th not sure if he will podium

TH has got to be more vigilent. He, Menchov and Heras each lost 7" to LA and JU as a result of a small gap in the finishing peloton in Stage 10.

It's terrible that Angel Vicioso has abandoned after Stage 10. Liberty Seguros should be trying to keep all 9 riders in place, if Heras is to be best supported especially during the last week of the Tour.

If it were USPS, nobody would be abandoning. Noval killed himself just to stay within the maximum time limit for the TTT stage.

We may see some magic out of Bobby Julich on Friday. He was interviewed after the stage yesterday, and he said he feels like he did in 1998, when he got 3rd place overall in the Tour de France. I think Basso is his team leader, however. So it may be harder to see how well he is really doing if he has to ride domestique. We'll probably see what he's now made of on Friday.

1st Jan Ullrich
2nd Tyler Hamilton
3rd Roberto Heras
4th Thomas Voeckler
5th Iban Mayo
DNF Lance Armstrong - attacked by the same spectator that took out Merckx in his attempt at a 6th win in 1975.

patch70 said:

1st Jan Ullrich
2nd Tyler Hamilton
3rd Roberto Heras
4th Thomas Voeckler
5th Iban Mayo
DNF Lance Armstrong - attacked by the same spectator that took out Merckx in his attempt at a 6th win in 1975.

I wonder if they ever arrested the guy that kidney punched Merckx in the '75 Tour. He would be 29 years older now, if he's still alive. Maybe his violent propensity brought him an early grave somewhere. That's often the case with hot heads.

1. Voeckler
2. Armstrong
3. Ulrich
4. Hamilton
5. Heras

I am sure Voeckler will not be first (shocked at above too), or on the podium for that matter.

This is strange, how badly Heras is handling the final parts of the last two stages. He lost over 10" to all of his major competitors today. What is wrong with his DS or him?

gntlmn said:

I wonder if they ever arrested the guy that kidney punched Merckx in the '75 Tour. He would be 29 years older now, if he's still alive. Maybe his violent propensity brought him an early grave somewhere. That's often the case with hot heads.

He was caught and nailed for assault. Just last night the Tour coverage made a big deal out of the usage of video cameras and how the footage helped Merckx single out the punk.

kjnangre said:

1. Voeckler

You're joking, right?

Are you a regular that created a new account just to post the above message?

watermelonman said:

You're joking, right?

Hehe, I know, I know. I just think it would be neat if Voeckler can stay on Lance's wheel through the mountains and keep his yellow jersey. And if it does happen, well I called it 🙂

Nope, I'm not a regular hiding under a new name.

kjnangre said:

Hehe, I know, I know. I just think it would be neat if Voeckler can stay on Lance's wheel through the mountains and keep his yellow jersey. And if it does happen, well I called it 🙂

Nope, I'm not a regular hiding under a new name.

Hah, it's cool, I'm not trying to accuse you or anything; I'm on a more high-profile forum that attracts a lot of trolling so I am weary of such things.

Yes, I have to say that I'm very impressed with Voeckler so far. I just don't think there's any way he could fend off all those big names that have been waiting in the pack.

watermelonman said:

Hah, it's cool, I'm not trying to accuse you or anything; I'm on a more high-profile forum that attracts a lot of trolling so I am weary of such things.

Yes, I have to say that I'm very impressed with Voeckler so far. I just don't think there's any way he could fend off all those big names that have been waiting in the pack.

No worries, I got a good chuckle from your post 🙂